Description: After his run-ins with the Kyokugen user Robert Garcia, Rugal tracks down the master of the art - Takuma Sakazaki. Quick to the point, Rugal challenges Takuma to a fight, and in the aftermath gives him a very tempting invitation..
The forest has often been a popular place for people to come--to train, to ponder, to emo out, to feed small woodland animals. Takuma is... well, he's here to train, however typically; the horizon glows a dark red-orange at dusk, shadows long as the grunting sounds of a Sakazaki disturb the wildlife. Of course, Takuma could be training in his dojo--but too much of that turns a man soft. Comfort should be forsaken, every once in a while. And that is why Takuma is out here.
Of course, there's still the question of what he's -doing- out here... and that, my friends, is simple--he's hitting trees. The biggest, oldest, and strongest ones he can; landing blow after blow, part of his toughening routine; soon will come the lifting of Cadillacs and the wrestling of bears... unless he's interrupted. It isn't hard to find him; an inquiry at the dojo would be sufficient.
The forest is a good place to get away from it all. It helps the mind to focus and relax, and put a new perspective on thinks. On the other hand... it takes people gloriously far away from the city. From people. All there is here to socialize with is the trees and the animals. A perfect place to think. A perfect place to train the body, the mind, and the spirit. Alternatively... it is an excellent place for people to intrude, without any interference from the outside world. And what better time to intrude, than when the master of the Kyokugen arts is practicing out here?
Which is why, as Takuma trains, a figure comes up from behind him; dressed in a large, black overcoat and clothes blood-red in color, the man allows a small grin to tug on his lips. "Mr. Sakazaki..." He let's the name linger in the wind, so that Takuma can hear him /clearly/. "Master of the Kyokugen style. I'm terribly sorry to interrupt you." He dips into a low bow, that smile still on his face. Head tilting up, he stares at Takuma -- one eye normal, the other glowing, red. Cybernetic.
"I am Rugal Bernstein; I was wonderinf if I could have a moment of your time."
*CRASH* That's the sound of one of the trees splintering as a force cracks it deep within. But it's not a terrible wound. Takuma turns, slowly... and pauses. A red cybernetic eye? The man clearly is an evil ninja! Or something like that. Still, no reason not to be (essentially) polite, if not a bit overbearing.
"Rugal Bernstein, huh?" he says, giving the man the once-over look. Normally he'd joke around a lot more, but something about the man says 'this guy has no sense of humor'. Still, there's at least one jab Takuma can get in there.
"You here to learn the arts of Kyokugenryuu?!?" Takuma can tell that the man is a strong one, so, much like Terry, it's mainly meant in jest.
"Learn the Kyokugenryuu? ... no, I'm afraid not." Rugal archs a single brow as he straighens fully, slipping a hand into his pocket.
"I'm merely here to test it."
He slips a hand into his pocket as soon as he has risen from his bow, taking a more casual stance. "You see, I've fought one of your students, Mr. Garcia? And having fought him, I would very much like to see just what his master is like. His technique as passable. I would like to see the power of the man who perfected the style." Hands lifting, Rugal tugs his gloves a little bit tighter over his fingers.
"So, then. Could you sacrifice some of your precious time, to fight me?" It's not so much a request, however.
COMBATSYS: Rugal has started a fight here.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|
So that's it. Of course. Test the students, then the master. It's a system Takuma himself is familiar with. The mention of Robert and his 'passability' brings a fierce grin to Takuma's lips, and he nods. He'll have to, of course; there's no reason not to. Afraid for his life? Ha! Never.
"I'm afraid I'm not quite a master yet," says Takuma--though he knows that that's pretty much untrue, as he is the oldest and most experienced Kyokugenryuu fighter alive--"But I'll give you want you want. Are you ready for it?!?" he shouts, dropping into his stance--traditional Karate, less open than Ryo's stance--his gaze never wavering from the Bernstein man... sizing him up.
COMBATSYS: Takuma has joined the fight here.
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Takuma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Takuma focuses on his next action.
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Takuma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
"Is that so? Well, you're certainly close enough, aren't you? I imagine you're a bit better than Mr. Garcia." But then Takuma decides it's time to start. And Rugal certainly won't disappoint the man. Takuma takes his time to observe Rugal, and for all his efforts... for now, Bernstein simply stands there. And then...?
He moves.
Pushing off one foot, the leader of R crosses the distance between himself and Takuma at incredible speeds. His leg snaps forward, to strike the Sakazaki elder in the jaw, before leaping into the air to plant a single foot firmly into the side of Takuma's head. Simple, but brutal.
COMBATSYS: Takuma counters Light Kick from Rugal with Mouko Burai Gan.
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Takuma 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Rugal
Takuma -is- better than Robert. Certainly, there will come a time when both Ryo and Robert--and even Yuri--will surpass the older man. (It'll be when he's dead.) But for now--he -is- the supreme master of Kyokugenryuu. And he'll show it, here and now. The first kick, Takuma pulls his head back just enough that Rugal misses; the second kick, however, threatening his brainmeats, is stopped cold on an upraised left forearm.
"Fast," grunts Takuma, as he drops into a deep stance, "But not fast enough!" he cries as he twists, lunging forward with a reverse punch, taking Rugal right in the stomach (as he's in midair), before pulling back into his normal stance.
Well. Unexpected, really, but not exactly 'painful.' In fact, even as Takuma strikes him in the stomach, Rugal is more displeased that his combination was brushed aside, more than anything else. Most of the blow is simply absored into the solid physique of the man, and the only reason he goes flying away from Takuma is due to the fact that he was air-borne. He is quick to recover, however, landing solidly on his feet and brushing off his suit a little.
"Good!" That's the only compliment he'll offer, however, before he leaps forward, intent on slamming an elbow into Takuma's chest. If it's successful, he'll follow up with a hook punch, right into the older man's solar plexus, with no small amount of force.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Takuma with Medium Punch.
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Takuma 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Rugal
This time, Rugal's combination strikes true; the elbow sets Takuma up for the hook punch, sending him staggering. Takuma turns the stagger into a back-hop, gaining a little distance from Bernstein... and he doesn't seem overly displeased by the hit, despite how damaging it must have looked; he crosses his arms at the waist, uttering a low, "Haaaa~~" as golden chi rises around him in a brief circular column. But all this doesn't mean that Takuma isn't keeping an eye on Rugal.
COMBATSYS: Takuma gathers his will.
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Takuma 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Rugal
"My, my! Impressive control of your chi!" Bernstein will have to keep that one in mind. That cybernetic eye keeps careful watch of Takuma, even as the man begins to gather up that impressive chi of his. Fingers curling and uncurling, the leader of R allows himself to slowly fall into a more combat-ready position. Except this time, when he pushes off, his feet literally /lift/ off the ground. The man is levitating even as he blazes a path towards Takuma. He intends to grab the other man by the face, and if successful, simply /plow/ him into a nearby tree with enough force to send the thing toppling over.
COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Rugal's God Press.
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Takuma 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Rugal
While Rugal is fast, Takuma hasn't been idle either; even as he's grabbed, Takuma isn't fighting it, but preparing for the inevitable. Just as Rugal approaches the tree, Takuma tucks into a ball, twisting to break the man's grasp, kicking out against the tree, absorbing most of the impact as he uses the transferred energy to land safely.
"Very fast, Bernstein!" calls the Kyokugenryuu master, with a fierce grin--then shows off some speed of his own as his fists lash out an a swift combination of straight punches, aimed to rain, literally, all over Rugal's head and torso, the finisher coming as a big right uppercut.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Takuma's Zanretsu Ken.
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Takuma 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rugal
"Hey, dad, here's some water, just in case you need a bre... hooboy!"
Yes, that would be the joy of Yuri Sakazaki, youngest of the clan, seeing her pops in the midst of a fight with Rugal Bernstien! The mighty! She remembers her _own_ fight with him, and just yelps, then shouts out for her father, hands cupped around her mouth to make sure he hears. "Careful, dad! he's rough! Like, really, really rough! Kick his butt!"
Unfortunately -- Rugal is nothing if not prepared, as well. So even as Takuma comes rushing in towards him, he is nothing if not prepared. Those blows come in and Rugal... blocks, quite literally, /all/ of them. His hands move in rapid motio almost undetectable to the naked eye, before that final uppercut comes... and Bernstein holds it steady with a single hand. "Impressive power!"
And that is about all the time he spares for chatter. While he offers a spare glance towards Yuri, all he offers is the briefest hint of a smile towards the girl. He remembers her. And then... he unleashes a spinning kick aimed for Takuma's side. If successful, he follows up with a single uppercut to knock the man into the air before leaping up after the other man, and slamming an overhead axe-kick into his gut, to send him crashing straight for the ground.
COMBATSYS: Takuma fails to counter Medium Kick from Rugal with Mouko Burai Gan.
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Takuma 1/--=====/=======|===----\-------\0 Rugal
Takuma--well, he gets to eat dirt. And right -now-. Oof. That was not fun, for sure; Takuma is uppercutted and then axe-kicked and thrown straight into the ground; he was prepared, or so he thought, yet Rugal slipped through his defenses. Takuma can only roll away, to try and get some distance from the man and so be better prepared for whatever may come his way next.
Unfortunately... Rugal hardly ever provides ample opportunity for defense. Even as Takuma falls on the ground, Rugal is quick to follow. He rushes across the grass-covered ground of the forest, polished shoes stomping across the distance before he makes a short leap, intending to simply snap-kick Takuma in the jaw with surprising force for such a swift attack. Try as Takuma might to recover, hopefully he's good at it; Rugal is not a man to often show mercy.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Takuma with Light Kick.
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Takuma 1/=======/=======|====---\-------\0 Rugal
Takuma's head is flung back from the kick; he fades with it, feigning a stumble to his side, which turns into a mighty leap which takes Takuma a distance from Rugal. No words, now; Takuma wipes the blood from his lips and spits some more out. And then he assumes a position that Rugal might find curiously familiar, if he's ever seen footage of the famous Ryu; Takuma draws his hands in towards his belly. The power surge is noticeable; Takuma's hands glow briefly yellow-orange as he suddenly snaps the hands out and wide, one high, and one low. Takuma's voice echoes through the forest as he cries out, "HAOH... SHOKOKEN!" And sends a blazing projectile of chi, as tall as Takuma himself, flying at the Bernstein.
COMBATSYS: Rugal negates Haoh Sho Ko Ken from Takuma with Kaiser Wave.
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Takuma 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Rugal
Seen footage? He's fought Ryu personally. And he has certainly /seen/ this type of technique before... and dominated over it. Today will be no different. Even as yellow-orange chi begin to converge in Takuma's hands, Rugal thrusts both of his arms to either side of him. An immense amount of blue-white chi begins to surge across Rugal's arms, building up as the winds whip around him violently. And if Takuma has seen footage of Krauser fighting... he might recognize this one. Rugal does not should the name. It's not necessary. An immense WAVE of power simply washes over the area as Takuma unleashes the Haoh Sho Ko Ken, clashing with the other man's energies in a deadly mix. Winds burst forth, whipping at Rugal's hair as the two energies clash, but eventually... they negate each other in a blinding explosion, leaving Bernstein to offer the man a casual smile. "I suppose you had more where that came from?"
"Hrmp." Takuma isn't displeased by the outcome, surely; it could have gone far worse for him, and he knows it. Rugal's casual smile is met with a wry one from Takuma.
"Perhaps I do, perhaps I do," he replies... but in order to, he'll have to summon up some energies... which he does as he did before, crossing his wrists, concentrating... no vocalization this time, that's pretty much just for show anyways. The golden energy wreathes Takuma for a few moments, but not very long.
COMBATSYS: Takuma gathers his will.
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Takuma 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Rugal
Perhaps he does... excellent, then. A wide grin crosses Bernstein's lips, even as he thrusts his arms to either side of him, his cybernetic eye focusing on Takuma, taking the man in. He doesn't move for now, however. Instead... he slips a single hand into his pocket, offering Takuma a brief, if not gracious bow. "Please then, show me /exactly/ what sort of power you have sir." Come after Takuma? No, Rugal's done quite a bit of that today. This time... he'll wait for the other man. Calmly.
COMBATSYS: Rugal focuses on his next action.
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Takuma 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Rugal
Takuma most definitely does not like Rugal's arrogance--but at least for this fight--he's earned some of it. Takuma nods once, at Rugal, then starts off in a quick dash... only to turn it into a leap, a low, parabolic arc that carries him right to Rugal.
As he nears Rugal, he suddenly twists, kicking out, nearly horizontally, the blade of his foot intended to smash Rugal in the face. Simple, but, if it works, hopefully effective.
COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Rugal with Medium Kick.
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Takuma 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rugal
Ah, there we are. Takuma comes flying at Rugal, just as the man hoped for. But, though Rugal is quick to raise a guard, it doesn't seem he's /quite/ fast enough. The man stumbles, but does not falter. Nor is there any blood that runs from his mouth as the kick completes itself. Rather, Rugal is still smiling, his feet planting themselves firmly into the ground...
And then a single elbow thrusts out, to catch Takuma in the throat. Simple, but effective, and followed up swiftly by the man twisting across the ground to slam his elbow into Takuma once more -- this time, into his stomach. Hard.
[OOC] Takuma :/
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Takuma with Medium Punch.
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Takuma 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Rugal
Once again, Rugal's elbow strikes true; Takuma once again stumbles back, though he keeps his feet. It seems he doesn't feel like he's done well; his lips have twisted into a most unhappy frown, though there is no anger really directed in it. It's a frown of concentration. Perhaps he can still win this; perhaps not. Rugal has certainly pushed Takuma to the limits, and that's what Kyokugenryuu is all about. Testing your limits... and others. Setting himself, Takuma once again reaches deep, hands at his stomach, slightly hunched... power swirling around him invisibly... and then his hands snap out, firing off another huge blast of red-gold chi... only this time, it's one after the other... after the other, three blasts firing off in quick succession, a true testament to Takuma's ability to control chi.
COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Rugal with Triple Haohshokoken.
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Takuma 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Rugal
"YEAH!"
She just can't shut up, can she? Yuri bounces on the sideline, cheering on her pops as he SCHOOLS the old blonde man with the gimp eye and the foofy clothes. "That's it! Kick is ass left and right, and then when you're done, tell him to do a thousand pushups!"
Perhaps Takuma can win this? All Rugal truly cares about is that the man gives him a decent display of power. If he does, than Rugal will most certainly be satisfied. And it seems that Takuma does just that. Rugal, as the attack comes in... does not even move. That violent chi consumes him, burns at his outfit, consumes him utterly. Not once, not twice... but /three/ times. And in the aftermath, as the smoke clears... Rugal still stands. Clearly a bit more worse for wear, but no less smiling. In fact -- he's grinning /all the wider/. "EXCELLENT!!" And then, the man rushes forward without even halting to try and catch his breath. He blazes forward with remarkable speed, simply intent on slamming a single foot down across Takuma's shoulder with a kick across his shoulders, intent on dropping the man to his knees with sudden, swift power.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Takuma with Light Kick.
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Takuma 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Rugal
Takuma takes the hit across the shoulders; however, he DOES NOT FALL. Not yet. Takuma growls, low in his chest, as he pushes away from Rugal, going into an artful backwards tumble... but not really; as he goes low, he really just attempts to fire off a series of jabs into Rugal's stomach. Very simple, really; of course, it leave Takuma in a somewhat vulnerable position--within fifty yards of Rugal. Where's the cops to enforce that restraining order?
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Takuma's Jab Punch.
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Takuma 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Rugal
Those punches come in fast, but for a man who eats up physical power for breakfast, this is nothing. Those punches are all easily blocked without even a second thought on the matter, not even the beginnings of numbness crossing into Rugal's hands. And then... he thrusts out, with a single hand, to clasp Takuma securely by the head. If he does, he'll lift the Kyokugan user up, /slowly/, before plunging a fist into his stomach with enough force to send him flying through the air, up and away from Bernstein. Want to be in a less vulnerable position? Rugal shall provide assistance.
COMBATSYS: Takuma fails to counter Scorpion Blow from Rugal with Mouko Burai Gan.
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Rugal 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Takuma can no longer fight.
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Rugal 0/-------/=======|
Takuma goes flying through the air, with the greatest of ease--but it isn't the flights, it's the landings that get you--and this one gets him bad. Rugal wins this one...
Of course, that much marked the fight as over. Rugal knew that from the beginning. Even as Takuma goes flying, Bernstein takes a look at his suit, and frowns faintly. "It happens almost every time..." He mutters, half to himself, before simply removing the garb easily enough to reveal the black military fatigues and mesh underneath. Hands slippling into his pants pockets, he seems to fish around for a moment as he walks towards Takuma. And when he finally gets there... he produces a single card. An invitation. "When you are capable... please read this. Consider it a personal invitation, Mr. Sakazaki... to a truly spectacular event." And if Takuma takes a look, he'll see... the card /is/ an invitation. To a tournament.
"I hope to see you there, Master of the Kyokugen..."
COMBATSYS: Rugal takes no action.
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Rugal 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Rugal has ended the fight here.
Log created by Rugal, and last modified on 07:28:25 01/25/2006.